Alta to Extend Season and Rumored to be Opening Up to Snowboarding

Alta announced that it will reopen the weekendfollowing its scheduled closing date of April 18th conditions permitting. It isrumored that this extra weekend will allow Alta to introduce snowboarding toits slopes without violating the terms of the season pass agreements. Both Taosand Aspen (Ajax) made similar moves the season before they opened tosnowboarding.

StartFragment

What does the Newschooler'scommunity think about the prospect of Alta being being open to snowboarding? Ifit were to happen would it influence your decision to ride Alta and how so?

fuck no, snowboarders wiill still be unwanted there, whether or not they open it to them and i think it kind of sucks because if u get stuck behind them on the devils castle traverse, it will be a complete bitch and will suck so hard

At first I was like, hmm it wouldnt be that bad...its not really an issue having them at the bird, but then you made a good point. Theres a lot more traversing at alta and it would suck getting stuck behind them

the no snowboarding rule is the one thing I don't like about alta. the only good thing about it is that it means there are less people there. i feel bad that the snowboard homies can't shred such a sick mountain

ya but why would you go there when Sugarbush is 2 miles down the road?...I can't imagine why unless there is an epic pow dump but other than that seems to be a shit resort but I've heard it has some sick terrain when the conditions are right

but on the other hand you have the best of both worlds at Sugarbush nice park and nice steeps

I ride at Taos in NM, which up until March 19, 2008, was a skier only resort.

Clearly when the decision was made to allow snowboarders to ride Taos, it was a hot button divisive issue for many of the, ahem, "older" locals and tourists alike. Message boards were alight with all kinds of hateful bullshit, with "I'll never ski Taos ever again" and "TSV just lost a lifelong customer" being two popular refrains.

As a (relatively) youngish guy, I grew up with the vast majority of my friends making their way down mountains with one board strapped to their feet. I remember getting shit (mostly harmless playful ribbing) from friends—and the occasional stranger—about how skiing was oh so uncool, but otherwise, most of the ski vs. board hate was something I heard about rather than experienced first hand. In fact, I came to believe, and still do, that very little hate actually exists, but it's perpetuated by the media and instigated by companies who see it as a marketing opportunity (i.e. Burton's pathetically transparent ski shmear campaign in a desperate attempt to seem edgy and attract the "I hate my parents demographic").

I was sort of on the fence about Taos's decision when I caught wind. I guess there is something sort of charmingly noble (or something) about a mountain attempting to preserve a legacy and tradition of being a skier only mountain. Especially, as it's a no-brainer that any mountain in the U.S. that prohibits snowboarding is cutting off a huge portion of potential customers. Basically, I felt like it was pretty impressive that a corporation would stand behind a conviction in the face of cutting deeply into their bottomline; whether I thought the conviction was worthwhile or not, it's just not something you see much these days. In addition to feeling a bit bummed that Taos's management was finally caving to the allure of the all-mighty dollar, I was concerned that my sleepy, never-crowded skier's paradise would suddenly be awash with people. I grew up skiing the Poconos where standing in a lift line was as much a part of the ski experience as actually making turns. After riding Taos a few consecutive Saturdays—and skiing directly on to the chair lift over and over again in the process—the idea of dodging moving slalom gates and seated mogul-people in between having the tails of my skis ridden on in line to do it all over again, seemed too much to bare.

Much to my delight, after a few wild days, things were back to normal, albeit there were some people lugging around one giant ski all of a sudden. As an added bonus, our previously neglected, embarrassingly shitty terrain park was all of a sudden only sort of neglected and regular shitty...everyone knows those edgy boarders insist on getting eXtreme after all! Taos is a VERY traverse heavy mountain, but despite seeing some doomed fools sitting down half-way down (across?) a cat trail that I easily skied right around, it didn't affect me in the slightest.

I suspect that probably the greatest contributing factor to Taos's relative obscurity and seeming emptiness is it's distance from any airports (ABQ is almost 3 hours from chair 1), but regardless, not much really changed about Taos after the initial stink and hoopla.

My guess is that if Alta decides to allow snowboarding, a similar unfolding will occur: a bunch of snobbish old fogies and their uber conservative children will cry about it for a while, and it'll quickly become a non-issue where most people will forget that snowboarding was once a no-go.

It's just simply not a big deal. We're all in the mountains for the same things, and that is to enjoy ourselves, the outdoors, the rush of moving fast, and to make some memories to share later.

And for the record, this business about snowboarding fucking up the snow pack...well that may be so that shitty snowboarders scrape snow off, but by no means are they any worse than shitty skiers sideslipping or pizzaing entire runs so that they can claim to have "skied a black diamond!" So there.

You're whole rant does nothing to the fact that snowboarders would not only ruin traverses, but they would also hate hiking out of every flat area at the end of all the good runs. Most of the sick runs at alta you traverse for awhile (to get freshys obvi) and then have to skate or glide on a long traverse out too. It doesn't matter if alta lets them or not, they wouldn't like it, guaranteed.

I don't know that I really agree that boarders ruin traverses...how do you mean? I've never ridden Alta, but in my experience it's not a big deal to get around people.

Otherwise, I can dig that, and that's fine...it's one thing for people to just decide that they don't enjoy riding a particular resort, and it's another thing to prohibit it. I just think it's silly. What about families where some ski, and some board? Not everyone rides at the same level, so what's the harm in a few gaperish boarders sticking to the groomed stuff?

I'm not even really sure which part of my "rant" (rants are angryish...I'm definitely not that) you're trying to pick apart... all I'm really trying to say is that in my experience riding a skier only mountain that made the switch, it didn't really end up being that big of a deal.

And, like Alta, much of Taos's topnotch terrain is on the other side of lengthy traverses and hikes, so naturally you don't find too many boarders out that way. But, I don't see any real reason to straight up not allow them to be there. If boarders ultimately decide that it's not worth their dough for a lift ticket, that's cool.

there, you are wrong. I do both ski and board, and I can say that I would definitely not care if I had to traverse, or even traverse/hike out of the bottom.

I snowboard because I love it, and if that means I have to earn my turns then so be it. I there is an amazing looking run I will hit it, even if I have to hike out at the bottom. Was at Le Massif earlier this season. For any of you that know it, it is not the most snowboard friendly hill when the maillard lift is closed. You have to skate along pretty much flat terrain from the main lift to get to the good runs like 42 etc, a long way. But we did it because we knew it was worth it.

If anything your argument just supports what casual was saying. You say that snowboarders woul;dnt like it. At least shitty ones wouldnt because they would have to traverse a lot (something that good riders don't mind doing), so you would be left with good riders coming, whats wrong with that?

People should just be pumped to enjoy the slopes with their buddies, no matter if they are skiers, snowboarders, snowbladers, whatever it is. We are all out there to enjoy the same great feeling, sliding on snow. Skier/Boarder hate only exists because of childish people who can't grow up and see that we are all out there for the same goal, looking around at the bottom of an epic run and seeing everyone with a huge smile on their face.

They click out and hike, hence ruining the traverse. Altas traverses aren't normal by any means, i think boarders would hate it and gapers already clog up traverses on pow days im not tryin to have some snowboarder trying to go up a small hill in the traverse for 10 mins while others ski the pow i could be skiing.

Saying only the good snowboarders would go is so false, so many goombas would be clogging that shit up so many goomba skiers already do that. I like alta how it is and i hope it stays like it is.

Son it really nhas nothing to do with snowboarders...its just that you dont want your perfect little world "ruined" by someone who may not be at the same level as you, so they egt in your way? Try and remember back to when you may have been slow on a traverse when you were younger, but all you were trying to do is get to your favourite run and have a good time.

And still noone has answered my question as to what Alta's policy is on disabled skiers? (sitski, amputees using outriggers, etc.)

I am going to back up the "clogging the traverses" argument here. Name another resort that has traverses as gnarly as Alta. Snowbirds Cirque and East Baldy? Way more gradient then the Alta's East Castle T, the traverse to the High Notch, or even the High T, and the Snowbird traverses are constantly clogged. Of the 30+resorts I have skied and as a former snowboarder, Alta's traverses are definitely the least snowboard friendly.

Also, where is this info coming from? The Alta marketing people talk about the no snowboarders thing as a highly marketable characteristic of Alta. I don't want to sound like an elitist ass here, but what makes more sense: sell a few thousand more day passes to snowboarders who might buy some pizza and beer on the side, or sell a few hundred vacations to old rich dudes from the east coast that drop 5k on a vacation, come back every year, and wax on about how much they like the "no boarders rule."

I am not saying it is fair, but Alta is for skiers, and I would bet it is going to stay that way.

Hahah okay buddy, you've never been to atla, you have no idea what i'm talking about. The places i go aren't runs i would have done when i was young and slow, supreme bowl and some parts of high t are real gnarly. And like someone else backed me up, the traverses are by far the least snowboard friendly its hard enough to ski some of them.

Like I said, I've never ridden there, so I don't know/didn't know that the traverse situation was what you're saying it is.

I just assumed that Alta didn't allow snowboarding for the same reason that a lot of resorts didn't: because of tradition and the belief that snowboarding brings in the "wrong crowd". If you're telling me that Alta doesn't/hasn't allowed boarders because they thought that doing so would really fuck up the flow of the mountain, well than I guess it is what it is, and there's a good reason.

You are right, I have never been to Alta. But for those of us who love what we do a little traverse won't stop us from riding a run that we want. And I just assumed that these may be some runs you may have hit when you were younger because you complained about "goomba" skiers already pissing you off on traverses, a safe assumption I thought, but you know what they say about assuming.

And just because the traverse is not snowboard friendly doesnt mean they shouldnt be given the chance.

Thumbs up to whoever it was that mentioned the economics of it, most likely one of the main reasons they still are anti-snowboard. Hold on to that niche market, hell they could probably even overcharge and those oldschool skiers will still come and pay the price to keep the sport "pure".

I assumed the economics of the thing was what was really at play. That was a huge concern at Taos too, initially. The concern being that if they allowed snowboarding, they would lose a huge chunk of their lifelong supporters (vacationers and pass holders a like) to a resort like Alta. To some people, it's worth paying premium to ride a resort where snowboarders aren't allowed. I personally can't imagine feeling so strongly against sharing the mountain with snowboarders, as I don't give a shit how people choose to ride snow—but hey...if there's a market for it, there's a market for it; can't knock it.

Ultimately the shareholders of Taos decided that they were better off courting families with boarder kids at the possible risk of losing some lifers. Apparently they made the right decision (at least financially) as their numbers were holding steady despite the economy being absolutely brutalized months after they made the switch.

Then again, I was totally clueless about the traverse situation at Alta, so maybe Alta has continued to prohibit boarders in order to preserve the quality of visits for skiers. In which case, I respect Alta for trying to maximize their customer's enjoyment of the mountain instead of creating a clusterfuck in order to bring in some more revenue by allowing boarding.

first of all, i don't believe that rumor. second of all, everyone needs to stop saying that shredders have snowbird, there are more skiers at snowbird than shredders. If snowbird becomes a shredder only mountain, than i'm all for Alta's current policy. Until then, Alta needs to join the 21st century and realize that snowboarding is real, viable and here to stay.

i have absolutely no hate on snowboarders but i really like alta the way it is, its nice having a mountain where all there is is skiiers, also the not allowing of snowboarding means a bit less familys will go there, making shorter liftlines. the reason taos switched is because theres no mountains around and so families wouldnt go there if their kid snowboarded. with alta, it is literally right next to snowbird, so snowboarers in families can always go there. for all of you who keep talking shit about alta, go there, experience it, then you can say what you want, but if you've never actually experienced it you dont know what you are talking about

......... and remember to afterbang.... even if you fall!

snowboarders are more rebellious then you will ever strive to be- spork.

And secondly, Angel Fire, Sipapu, and Red River are all within 45 minutes of downtown Taos. Most people riding at Taos would be staying exactly in the same handful of hotels/resorts as any of those other mountains.

that will never happen. and when have you seen a snowboarder hiking on a traverse? ive only seen this once at snowbird on the bookends where it has a steep uphill thats probably about 15ft high where skiers side step up in mineral basin. usually they will just drop down a lilttle to gain speed and then carve back up to the traverse. But then again i ski and snowboard.